Fort Collins Biking

by Kelly
(Franklin Square, NY)

Fort Collins is a very bike friendly city. There are bike lanes on almost all of the major streets. But the best places to bike ride are on the trails. My favorite are the Spring Creek Trail and Poudre Trail. These are scenic and paved. There are a few slight inclines, but they can be easily overcome by children. In addition they are marked so you can estimate how far you traveled.

At one point, there is a spot reserved for prairie dogs. It's a great opportunity to observe them without cages. From my experience they are harmless and will leave you alone and go about their business.

The trails go along creeks and rivers, so you will also see wildlife along the banks too. There are also many exit/entry points along the trails. For a more experienced biker I would recommend the Foothills Trail, which is not paved. Inclines are steeper and you need a sturdy mountain bike for these trails.

I had a summer internship at Colorado State University in 2002 and used a bike to explore the whole city. The majority of establishments have bike racks so you can lock up you bike almost anywhere. The Colorado State University campus is a nice place to explore by bike. The buildings are unique and there are some artwork scattered throughout campus. Old Town is just a short bike ride away from the campus. There are several restaurants to choose from here and other small stores to explore.

I did bike from Colorado State University all the way to the Budweiser Brewery, but it did take about 30-45 min. It's a nice ride and has a bunch of scenery changes. This place is easier to reach by car, but biking there is not too bad.